Rehabilitation
Recovery of physical, occupational, or social skills
Some medical interventions require systematic rehabilitation, for example, after a stroke, a heart attack, tumor removal, or hip surgery. Medical rehabilitation is a benefit of statutory health insurance.
In addition to treatment by GPs and treatment in hospitals, rehabilitation is an integral part of the treatment process. Only close integration of these aspects ensures optimal care for many illnesses and diseases. Rehabilitation is designed to help patients regain physical, occupational, or social skills:
- Medical rehabilitation services are designed to prevent disability or the need for long-term care or to prevent the worsening of the condition
- Vocational rehabilitation services promote the patient’s integration into working life
- Social rehabilitation services encourage participation in community life. They aim to help the patient cope with everyday demands and reintegrate into the social environment
Rehabilitation promotes the individual’s abilities and potential to cope with illness and life. Patients learn ways to prevent acute medical conditions and make chronic disorders manageable.